Index your page in Google Having your page indexed on Google is an important step of SEO; however, this doesn't mean you will rank the page for the focus keywords. Another common issue that website owners face is that Google has indexed all of the pages, but when you search for the keywords that you want to rank for, those pages don't come up. Let's get to the bottom of this.
What Does It Mean When a Page Is Indexed But Not Ranking?
Google classifies a page as indexed when they have been picked up, crawling has occurred and Google considers it qualified to show in the search engine rankings. Google's search rankings also take into account the competing demand for other similar keywords as well as the quality of the website and their content.
May rank for search terms and keywords but be ranked on search pages deep beyond the first page. Or, it may have very few (or no) measurable impressions or traffic from search.
Why Is Your Indexed Page is Not Ranking on the Google?
Content Does Not Match Search Intent
Another reason is the content does not provide what the users are searching for. For example, if a user searches for website development cost or website development cost packages, or website development cost calculators, or what decides the pricing; then a general article around website development might not suffice for that.
Look at the search results for your target term and ensure that your page offers the kind of information the user is seeking.
Competitive Keywords
Your page has to compete with other pages that have authority, higher relevance and higher overall SEO scores. The page you've made contains a very broad keyword which causes your page to be hard to rank.
Alternatively, pick a more targeted long tail keyword for which your service and audience are a good fit. They will likely have less competition and fewer searches than the broad keyword, but check both.
Thin or Repetitive Content
Pages that have too little information or copies of what's elsewhere on your site aren't likely to outperform other pages. You won't want to inflate the word count for the sake of it.
Have a go at delivering helpful information, real-world examples, inspiration and the 'missing answers' to the questions asked by your competitors.
Technical SEO Issues
Technically you can run into problems even with pages with even number of page index. Technical pages issues – page Canonical tags errors, internal linking issues, mobile usability issues, page speed are some of the common issues.
Test on Google Search Console to make sure the URL. Look at the index status, selected canonical, and any issues found. Verify the page is viewable and there is no noindex inadvertently added to a page.
Poor Internal Linking
Another thing to look out for are pages that may not be easily findable by the algorithms of search engines and the algorithms of your own site because there are no relevant pages linking to it.
Insert text-based anchor text links to this page from other related service pages and articles in the adjacent field. Don't add links if they aren't contextual and require no explanation to the reader.
How to Rank an Indexed Page Better
Examine Data from Google Search Console
Console, open the Search Performance report by page URL. Your page may be about a term that is too general.
If the page has impression, but low click-through rate check the title /meta description if it explicitly describes what the page has to offer. If the page has nearly no impression check for keyword relevance/content value and competition and linking.
Improve Existing Content
Search Compare Your Page With Search Results. Recognize an absence of content, improve understanding of content, modernize content, and answer user's questions. Update and make useful content rather than editing to make it appear fresh and new.
Strengthen Your Website's Internal Structure
Link to related blogs or to your service pages where appropriate, e.g. a blog post on website ranking problems can link to the appropriate SEO or website development service page of Stridemex.
Allow Google to Re-evaluate Adjustments
SEO rankings right away. Once the page has been updated, google has to recrawl and review the page, which can take some time and is dependent on your site and competitor sites.
Observe a few more weeks of performance and evaluate it alongside your earlier data. Do not continue to test out different titles, content, and URLs without concrete the proof that a change is required.
Final Thoughts
Not ranking on an index page doesn't necessarily mean a failed page. There's the issue of search intent, competitiveness, content quality, technical SEO and internal linking. When you dig into your Google Search Console data and work on what actually needs working on, the page can rank for what it should be ranking for.
Here at Stridemex, we know a good SEO strategy isn't limited to just indexing pages. All well out with a clear plan of on page content, technical, keywords and long term organic growth.
FAQs
1. My pages are being indexed by Google but it not ranked?
Google but was not considered relevant enough for the queries. Search intent, relevant content, keyword competition, and related internal pages might need to be explored.
2. How long does an indexed page take to rank?
No two have same path. Some pages appear fast - within weeks. Others take months or longer. It depends on many factors including competition, authority, freshness, relevance and so on.
3. Should I request indexing again if my page is not ranking?
Nope. If the page is indexed per Google Search Console and there is no change in data, multiple requests to index will probably not help. Just be sure the page is optimized and all technical issues are addressed.
4. Can internal linking improve the ranking of an indexed page?
Yes. Internal links are relevant and contextual and help Google find pages, understand their relationship with other pages and find out their value. Internal links by itself cannot help you rank higher.
5. How can Stridemex boost my site's position?
Stridemex can help you identify technical issues, optimize your on-site content, create and implement relevant keyword campaigns and enhance your site visibility with a systematic SEO methodology.
